About the job

Job summary

The department: 

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. The UK has a rich history in science and engineering and the Government has set an ambition to become a Science and Technology Superpower by 2030. Business and trade are an important part of realising that policy ambition. The Government has also prioritised the use of science and engineering evidence and the development of capability to deliver its objectives.  

The team: 

DBT’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), Professor Julia Sutcliffe and her team are responsible for providing expert, independent advice to Ministers and policy teams across DBT, and for developing the department’s system for accessing and using science and engineering evidence. The team form part of the government's senior science advisory network and work with the cross-government network of departmental CSAs and Government Office for Science.  

Job description

The CSA team is growing to reflect the prominence of the S&T agenda, and DBT’s role in helping to deliver this. The Grade 7 Policy and Capability Lead is a new role that will work directly with the CSA to shape and then oversee the delivery of a range of strategic projects and interventions across DBT. Responsibilities will include: 

• Leadership: Providing leadership and representation for the new advisory and capability sub-team (including line management of 1x SEO Policy and Capability Adviser). Regularly representing the CSA at departmental, cross-government and external fora.
• Policymaking: Setting a vision to develop the department’s system for accessing and using science and engineering evidence. Inputting to science policy work in DBT and across government, representing the CSA’s view and helping to build consensus. Designing and leading discrete science and engineering projects.
• Assurance: Developing the department’s approach to assurance of technical science and engineering programmes and expenditure. Working with other analytical teams to build DBT’s evidence base. 
• Building capability: Coordinating the DBT Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession network, involving all members of the CSA team, as appropriate. Delivering a high-quality programme of events and resources for colleagues to improve awareness of the Government’s science and engineering goals.  
• Influencing: Maintaining strong working relationships on the CSA’s behalf, both internally and externally, including with the cross-government network of CSAs and business stakeholders.
• Delivering as a team: Contributing to work across the wider CSA team, as required, and the team’s corporate responsibilities.  

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Background, experience working, or interest, in science, engineering and technology 
• Experience leading a team, accountable for the delivery of a range of projects, with the ability to plan and deliver through others 
• Ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to build networks

Desirable Criteria  

You can specify skills/experience which would be preferred for the job but not deemed mandatory.  

• Knowledge of the science and engineering policy environment 
• Understanding of industry and global trade 
• Experience working on capability building

Personal Attributes & Skills

• Ability to rapidly build rapport and trust with your principal (the CSA) and across the team 
• Curiosity and the drive to shape a new team’s vision and purpose 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:   

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement (max 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

After the closing date it is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment: 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. 

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.  

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department. 

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.  
• Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.   
• A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk 

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.  

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.